BBC chiefs in Birmingham were today accused of blowing licence fee cash on a car park for a council estate.

BBC chiefs in Birmingham were today accused of blowing licence fee cash on a car park for a council estate.

Bosses at the corporation offered to pay almost #1,000 towards the asphalt strip as a thank you to Perry Barr residents for putting up with film crews.

The Perry Villa estate, in Church Road, was first used as a location for BBC's day-time drama series Doctors and more recently for Tea With Betty.

The decision has left residents fuming. Martin Ellerman, aged 26, of Sandringham Road, said: "I fancy my drive crazy-paved, and I wonder if I should give the BBC a ring.

"The licence fee is an unfair tax on TV and the money offered to pay for this car park has made me resent it even more."

Eamonn Doherty, aged 31, of Somercotes Road, said: "I am forced to pay the licence fee and expect world class TV and radio in return, not a council estate getting a new car park."

Malcolm Walker, BBC locations manager, said: "The cash was a goodwill gesture to the people of Birmingham after years of filming. The BBC's contribution was matched by the city council, allowing the new car park to be created. We're pleased to have been able to see our donation used in such a positive way that benefits all the residents.

"Since the first episode of Doctors nearly five years ago, we have been filming all around Birmingham. Without this goodwill, we would not have been able to film a lot of our storylines."

Sylvia Holder, of the Perry Villa Residents' Association, said: "We are very grateful to the BBC and council for making this possible. We have had some problems on the estate with a lack of car parking spaces for some time and this will make a difference."